White Croats

White Croats (Byelohravati) is the designation for one group of Slavic (Croatian) tribes which migrated to Dalmatia (the coastal part of today's Croatia) as part of the migration of the Croats in AD 610–641. Their homeland, defined by Edward Gibbon as "the inland regions of Silesia and Lesser Poland", has occasionally been referred to as White Croatia.^[1]

By the time of first half of 10th century White Croatia was ruled by Prince Slavník Slavník dynasty,he had 7 sons, Sobeslav ,ruled 981-1004 (Slavnik's heir),Sputimir, Pobraslav, Porej, Caslav,Radim and Vyacheslav(Wojciech) later St.Adalbert of Prague,bishop of Prague archdiocese from 982–996.Vladimir I of Kiev fought White Croatians in 992. In 995, when White Croatian troops led by Sobjeslav were defending their Princedom from pagan tribes (maybe even Kievan Rus invasion in 992.), White Croatia was suddenly attacked by the Boleslaus of Přemyslids and Czech warriors from Bohemiaat 27.september 995, destroying their capital Libice. Soon after the White Croats were invaded by the new Polish kingdom.The last ruler, Soběslav was killed near Prague by Polish forces in 1004 A.D.

The White Croats should not be conflated with the eponymous East Slavic tribe, which, according to the Russian Primary Chronicle, inhabited the vicinity of Przemyśl in the 10th and 11th centuries. They were the neighbours of the Lędzianie.

It is interesting to add that according to some American documents from the beginning of 20th century there were about 100,000 immigrants to the USA born around Krakow who declared themselves to be Bielo-Chorvats, i.e. White Croats by nationality.^[2]

References

^ Croatia 802-1102. World History at KMLA, November 7, 2004. Accessed 4 September 2009.
^ U.S. Senate, Reports on the Immigration Commission: Dictionary of races or peoples, Washington D.C., 1911, pp. 40, 43, 105.